DzulHijjah 2014

Alhamdulillah, for us in Malaysia*, tomorrow (26th September 2014) is the 1st of DzulHijjah, the beginning of the “Ten best days of the year”.    

The Prophet, Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)  said:
“There are no days on which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days (i.e. first ten days of DzulHijjah).” They asked: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?”
He said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, unless a man goes out himself for jihad taking his wealth with him, (sacrifices everything) and does not come back with anything.”
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

* For us @ Malaysia, 1st Dzulhijjah falls tomorrow (26th September) whereas for Saudi, their 1st of Dzulhijjah was today (25th September) - our calendar dating are not the same as the Saudi dates, due to the difference in local sightings/declarations at different locations across the planet.

I will share what I believe the more correct fiqh in accordance to the Qur’an and Sunnah - we take the local declaration; based on the following

1) Locality
The principle behind commencement of new months – including that of DzulHijjah, can be taken from the hadith regarding decision of commencing and ending Ramadhan.

The Prophet said, “(Begin) Fast upon sighting it (the new moon); and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon, i.e. upon shawwal) – but if the sky is cloudy for you, then estimate/calculate it” (Narrated by Muslim, Abu Daud)
The hadith is also consistent with the meaning of surah al-Baqarah, verse 185 – “So whoever of you sights, he must observe the fasts that month..”

These evidences make it clear that our calender timings depend on the local observation(s) and does not bind the ummah to a specific governing location, regardless of the event(s) that take place (e.g. Day of Arafah).

2) Authority
We have governing religious authorities entrusted with this task of making a uniform decision for the nation – so this becomes binding for us, as Allah commands us to “Obey Allah, and Obey the Messenger – and those in authority over you..” (Surah An-Nisa 4:59)

3) Consistency
We trust and take their opinion when it comes to declaring Ramadhan and Shawwal, so we shouldn’t have a double standard when it comes to the decision on dzul-Hijjah / day of Arafah.

Furthermore, if we insist on fasting on the day of Arafah (the 9th Dzulhijjah) in accordance to the Saudi timing (which is still the 8th here) – then what do we do the next day (which is supposed to be Eid in Makkah)? We don’t fast because it’s Eidul Adha, but we don’t perform Eid prayers? Or do we pray Eid by ourselves – cause confusion and difference among the people, indirectly splitting ourselves apart?

Or do we wait, and pray with the rest of the Malaysians on the local 10th? If yes, then doesn’t this expose an inconsistency/double standard – that we only follow local timing when we want to?

Again, this is my understanding and fiqh; I am no scholar or authority, and I am not binding anyone with this sharing, only to clarify to make our intentions clear for the sake of Allah. We respect the views of others and we return to the standards (Qur’an and the Sunnah) when we differ.

May Allah grant us the understanding, and a blessed Dzulhijjah =)